Improvement in thill-couplings



CYRUS w. SALADEfE; flm-p-r evement in Th'ill- Couplings; No. 120,001;

Patented Och 17,1871.-

CYRUS W. SALADEE, OF ST. OATHARINES, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN THILL-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,001, dated October17, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRUs W. SALADEE, of St. Oatharines, in the Dominionof Ganada,have invented certain improvements for attaching thills andpoles to axles, of which the following is a specification:

The first part of my invention relates to that of passing theconnecting-bolt D through the ears F of the shaft-clip J and the elastictube H, or its equivalent, in such manner that the action of the boltupon the tube shall expand it, as hereinafter described and claimed. Thesecond part of my invention relates to that of placing within theshaft-head B an elastic tube or a solid block of rubber, or otherelastic substance, when said shafthead is made of one solid piece ofiron, as hereinafter described and claimed. The third part of myinvention relates to that of the combination of the elastic tube H, orits equivalent, with the connecting-bolt D, shaft-head B, and ears F ofthe shaftclip J, as and for the purpose hereinafter described andclaimed. The fourth part of my invention relates to that of protectingthe ends of the elastic tube H, or its equivalent, by means of thecollars G and C, and which, in combination with the bolt D, compressesthe tube longitudii'ially and expands its diameter within the shaft-headB, as and for the purpose hereinafter described and claimed. The fifthpart of my invention relates to the application of a metallic guard,B,.to secure the rear ends of the thills or pole from falling to theground in the event the connecting-bolt D works out of its position oris broken, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure l is a side elevation of my shaft-guard and coupling embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detached view of the shafthead B, showing the endof the elastic t'ube H and the connectingbolt D. Fig. 3 is a front viewof my complete coupling; the shaft-head B, the elastic tube H, and theright-hand ear F and F in section, with the connecting-bolt D O D andthe compressing-collars O and O in position. Figure 4 is atop View ofthe guard P before it is bent into the form seen in Fig. 1, and showingthe joint B.

The general construction of the shaft-clip and coupling shown in thedrawing does not differ materially from those now in general use. Theoutside ear F of the shaft-clip has an enlarged hole, in diameter equalto the diameter of the elastic tube H, which, when in position 011 thebolt D, is passed through this hole into the shafthead B, which also hasan enlarged hole of exactly the same diameter as the one through theoutside ear of the clip. The inside ear. F of the shaft-clip J has ahole about one-quarter inch smaller in diameter than the one through theshaft-head B and the outside ear F, or of such diameter as to closelyfit the main body of the connecting-bolt D, whose diameter is enoughsmaller than the before-mentioned hole through the shafthead as to admitof the bolt passing through the elastic tube H, while the latter closelyfits the hole in the shaft-head B. The connectingbolt D is formed with asolid collar, 0, next the head D, which collar is of a length anddiameter to closely fit the enlarged hole in the outside ear F of theshaft-clip J. And now, for the purpose of protecting the ends of theelastic tube H from wear against the inside surfaces of the ears F, theloose collars C and O are provided, as seen in Fig. 3. One of thesecollars O is first passed over the end of the bolt D, and passed upagainst the solid collar 0; the rubber tube H is next slipped on thebolt and against the collar 0 first in position, when the second collar0 is placed in position against the outside end of the tube. Theshaft-head B is now placed inposition between the ears F and F of theshaft-clip J and the bolt D, with collars O and (l and elastic tube H inposition thereon, as described, is passed through the enlarged hole ofthe outside ear F and the shaft-head B, as well as through the rear endhole in theopposite ear F, when the tap I is run on the outer end ofthebolt and firmly drawn up against the ear F. The elastic tube H being cuta little longer than the entire length through the shaft-head B thedrawing up of the tap I against the ear F will draw the solid collar Gof the bolt D against the collars G, and the tube H is longitudinallycompressed and expanded within the shaft-head to any desired extent thatwill effectually prevent rattling in this connection. Figs. 2 and 3clearly show all of the parts above described.

I do not confine my claims to the exact manner here shown and describedfor the interposition of an elastic tube within the shaft-head B, andthe manner of compressing and expanding the same, as I may fill theenlarged hole in-the shaft-head with a solid block of rubber, or otherelastic substance, and compress and expand the same by the use of twoset-bolts, having their thread cut in each of the ears F, and which maybe screwed up against each end of the rubber filling the shaft-head, andthus compress and expand it the same-as the tube H, shown and described.Also, a bolt, D, might beused having a screw-thread cut the entirelength, and being formed a size larger in diameter than the hole throughthe elastic tube H, the action of which, in being screwed through thetube, would likewise expand it within the shaft-head B. Neither do Ilimit my claims to the manner here shown and described for protectingthe elastic tube from wear, as the collars (J and 0 maybe formed on theends of the tube as a part thereof in their manufacture, and if foundnecessary to protect the outside or inside surface of the tube fromwear, a small sized coiled wire may be embedded the full length of thetube in its manufacture for this special purpose.

In connection with the shaft-couplin g described, as well as inconnection with those now in general use, I make a metal guard, I asseen in Figs. 1 and 4. The rear end of this guardis provided with ajoint, R, as seen in the figures last named, and which is secured to theunder side of the shaftiron A at T, by the bolt S, and it is then bentin the form seen in Fig. 1, and the top end of the guard is secured tothe upper side of the shaft by a bolt at O. I thus completely inclosethe axle V within the circle of this guard, and thus efiectually preventthe shaft from dropping to the ground in case the connecting-bolt Dshould work out or be broken. The guard may be attached without a jointR, if preferred.

When the thills or pole are to be detached, remove the top 0, when theguard P is allowed to drop back upon the joint 1%, and by removing theconnecting-bolt D the connection between the thills and axle is severed.These guards I contemplate manufacturing separate and apart from myshaft-coupling, of a proper length and left straight, as seen by Fig. 4;and they are readily applied to any vehicle by bending them in properform and attaching, as shown and described.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.Passing the connecting-bolt D through the ears F of the shaft-clip J andthe elastic tube H, or its equivalent, in such manner that the action ofthe bolt upon the tube shall expand it, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The combination of the elastic tube H, or its equivalent, confinedwithin the ears F, with the connecting-bolt D, and shaft-head B of theshaft-clip J, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. Protecting the ends of the elastic tube H, or its equivalent, bymeans of the collars O and O, and which, in combination with the bolt D,compress the tube longitudinally and expand its diameter within theshaft-head B, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

4. Broadly, the use of a metallic guard, 1, constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

August 22, 1871.

CYRUS W. SALADEE.

Witnesses: PERRY J. HoBBs,

L. S. BAKER. (31)

